Voeckler wins stage, Wiggins retains lead
Source: AFP |
July 12, 2012, Thursday
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FRANCE'S Thomas Voeckler won the 10th stage of the Tour de France yesterday, a 194.5km ride from Macon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, for his third career stage win in the race.
However, while Voeckler, who wore the overall leader's yellow jersey for 10 days last year, gave France its second stage win of the race, Britain's Bradley Wiggins retained the yellow jersey in this year's renewal.
Wiggins, 32, had a relatively scarefree day on the eve of the first major Alpine stage with just Italian title contender Vincenzo Nibali chancing his arm on the descent from Grand Colombier.
Nibali built up a lead of a minute over Wiggins's group but thanks to the solid work by Australian rider Richie Porte he was caught at the base of the final climb the third category col de Richemond some 20km from the finish.
For Voeckler, who finished fourth last year, it vindicated his decision to battle on in this year's race despite suffering from a painful knee early on. The 33-year-old's previous stage wins in the race were Perpignan in 2009 and Luchon 2010.
Meanwhile, Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador confirmed yesterday he will make his return to competition the day after his two-year doping ban expires at the Eneco Tour in Belgium and Holland on August 6.
"The Eneco Tour will be a very special race for me for various reasons," the Saxo Bank rider said on his website.
"It will be my return to competition, which I can't wait for," he said, adding: "I'm very excited to make my comeback here because these are two countries with a strong cycling tradition and where cycling moves more people than anywhere else."
Contador was banned for testing positive for the anabolic steroid clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France.
However, while Voeckler, who wore the overall leader's yellow jersey for 10 days last year, gave France its second stage win of the race, Britain's Bradley Wiggins retained the yellow jersey in this year's renewal.
Wiggins, 32, had a relatively scarefree day on the eve of the first major Alpine stage with just Italian title contender Vincenzo Nibali chancing his arm on the descent from Grand Colombier.
Nibali built up a lead of a minute over Wiggins's group but thanks to the solid work by Australian rider Richie Porte he was caught at the base of the final climb the third category col de Richemond some 20km from the finish.
For Voeckler, who finished fourth last year, it vindicated his decision to battle on in this year's race despite suffering from a painful knee early on. The 33-year-old's previous stage wins in the race were Perpignan in 2009 and Luchon 2010.
Meanwhile, Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador confirmed yesterday he will make his return to competition the day after his two-year doping ban expires at the Eneco Tour in Belgium and Holland on August 6.
"The Eneco Tour will be a very special race for me for various reasons," the Saxo Bank rider said on his website.
"It will be my return to competition, which I can't wait for," he said, adding: "I'm very excited to make my comeback here because these are two countries with a strong cycling tradition and where cycling moves more people than anywhere else."
Contador was banned for testing positive for the anabolic steroid clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France.
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